Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the A.C.E. Prime M.X.S. Signature Dominique Wilkins is very dark brown with a fine toothiness and thick but well pressed veins. The seams are smooth and really only detectable due to vein placement. The head appears to have three caps, but they are applied in an interesting way. The cigar is very firm and feels densely packed. The band is black and gold and has the line logo and name with Dominique’s name at the bottom and his signature on the opposite side. The aroma from the wrapper is a deep and dark stewed fruit along with some wood, while the foot brings the aroma of spice cake. The pre-light draw consists of spicy cedar with a mid-level spiciness on my lips.

First Third

The cigar begins with dark wood and mild black pepper. At a half inch in, a light mustiness joins the profile. The retrohale starts with a mild black pepper zing and then some musty, dark wood comes through. At an inch in, the wood isn’t as dark while the pepper has picked up a bit in fullness. At an inch and three quarters, the dark wood and mustiness are even, with the black pepper just slightly behind. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

Second Third

The second third begins with the addition of some dry earth. At an inch in, the dark wood, mustiness and dry earth are all even, with the black pepper slightly behind. The retrohale is musty dark wood and dry earth. At an inch and a quarter, the dry earth takes a slight lead in the profile and has a long finish creating a dry profile overall. At an inch and three quarters, the musty dark wood and dry earth are back to even, with the black pepper light in the background. The strength in this third remained at slightly above medium.

Final Third

The final third continues on with the even mix of musty dark wood and dry earth, while the black pepper is pretty faint in the background. The retrohale remains musty dark wood and dry earth. At three quarters of an inch in, the black pepper has dropped from the profile and the overall profile is fairly dry again. The cigar maintains this same profile through to the end. The strength in this third bumped up to medium-full.

Burn

The burn was a bit wavy throughout and the cigar went out once in the first third and once in the final third, requiring re-lights. The ash held on in inch and a half increments.

Draw

The draw was fairly snug and a draw tool brought no relief.

Overall

The A.C.E. Prime M.X.S. Signature Dominique Wilkins had a nice start, but once the dry earth joined in the second third, it put a bit of a damper on things and the experience was just average the rest of the way. The price point is fairly high on this cigar, but it did provide a lengthy smoking time of about three and a half hours, so there’s some slight value there. I have a bit of curiosity to revisit this to see how some better construction would effect the flavor profile, but the price will temper if I actually do so.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.50

Cost/Point

$3.09

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: A.C.E. Prime M.X.S. Signature Dominique Wilkins